Advanced Technique Exercises
Contents
Fingering Exercises
These exercises take a common fretting pattern for 2 left hand fingers and repeat across all pairs of strings. Exercises 1-4 use adjacent pairs of strings, while 5-8 use pairs of strings separated by a unused string between them.
This exercise is designed to help the quality of your left-hand fretting, the accuracy of your right hand picking (picking the correct string), and the synchronization between both hands. It should also help to train your left-hand to make more complex inter-finger movements.
Index and Middle
Exercise 1
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E-----------------------------------2---2-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------2---2-1---1-----2---2-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------2---2-1---1---------------------2---2-1---1------------------- D-----------2---2-1---1-------------------------------------2---2-1---1----------- A---2---2-1---1-----------------------------------------------------2---2-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------2---2-
Exercise 2
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E-------------------------------------1---1-2---2--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-2---2-----1---1-2---2------------------------- G---------------------1---1-2---2---------------------1---1-2---2----------------- D-------------1---1-2---2-------------------------------------1---1-2---2--------- A-----1---1-2---2-----------------------------------------------------1---1-2---2- E-1-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
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E-----------------------------------2-----1---1-2--------------------------------- B---------------------------2-----1---1-2---2-----1---1-2------------------------- G-------------------2-----1---1-2-------------------2-----1---1-2----------------- D-----------2-----1---1-2-----------------------------------2-----1---1-2--------- A---2-----1---1-2---------------------------------------------------2-----1---1-2- E-1---1-2-------------------------------------------------------------------2-----
Exercise 4
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E-----------------------------------2-1---1-----2--------------------------------- B---------------------------2-1---1-----2---2-1---1-----2------------------------- G-------------------2-1---1-----2-------------------2-1---1-----2----------------- D-----------2-1---1-----2-----------------------------------2-1---1-----2--------- A---2-1---1-----2---------------------------------------------------2-1---1-----2- E-1-----2-------------------------------------------------------------------2-1---
Exercise 5
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E---------------------------2---2-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------2---2-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------2---2---------1---1-----2---2---------1---1----------- D---2---2---------1---1---------------------2---2---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------2---2--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------2---2-
Exercise 6
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E-----------------------------1---1-2---2------------------------- B---------------------1-------------------1-2---2----------------- G-------------1-----------1-2---2-----1-----------1-2---2--------- D-----1-----------1-2---2---------------------1-----------1-2---2- A---------1-2---2-------------------------------------1----------- E-1-2---2-----------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 7
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E---------------------------2-----1---1-2------------------------- B-------------------2---------------------1---1-2----------------- G-----------2-------------1---1-2---2-------------1---1-2--------- D---2-------------1---1-2-------------------2-------------1---1-2- A---------1---1-2-----------------------------------2------------- E-1---1-2---------------------------------------------------2-----
Exercise 8
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E---------------------------2-1---1-----2------------------------- B-------------------2-1-------------------1-----2----------------- G-----------2-1-----------1-----2---2-1-----------1-----2--------- D---2-1-----------1-----2-------------------2-1-----------1-----2- A---------1-----2-----------------------------------2-1----------- E-1-----2---------------------------------------------------2-1---
Index and Ring
Exercise 1
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E-----------------------------------3---3-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------3---3-1---1-----3---3-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------3---3-1---1---------------------3---3-1---1------------------- D-----------3---3-1---1-------------------------------------3---3-1---1----------- A---3---3-1---1-----------------------------------------------------3---3-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 2
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E-------------------------------------1---1-3---3--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-3---3-----1---1-3---3------------------------- G---------------------1---1-3---3---------------------1---1-3---3----------------- D-------------1---1-3---3-------------------------------------1---1-3---3--------- A-----1---1-3---3-----------------------------------------------------1---1-3---3- E-1-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
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E-----------------------------------3-----1---1-3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-----1---1-3---3-----1---1-3------------------------- G-------------------3-----1---1-3-------------------3-----1---1-3----------------- D-----------3-----1---1-3-----------------------------------3-----1---1-3--------- A---3-----1---1-3---------------------------------------------------3-----1---1-3- E-1---1-3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 4
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E-----------------------------------3-1---1-----3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-1---1-----3---3-1---1-----3------------------------- G-------------------3-1---1-----3-------------------3-1---1-----3----------------- D-----------3-1---1-----3-----------------------------------3-1---1-----3--------- A---3-1---1-----3---------------------------------------------------3-1---1-----3- E-1-----3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-1---
Exercise 5
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E---------------------------3---3-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------3---3-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------3---3---------1---1-----3---3---------1---1----------- D---3---3---------1---1---------------------3---3---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------3---3--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 6
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E-----------------------------1---1-3---3------------------------- B---------------------1-------------------1-3---3----------------- G-------------1-----------1-3---3-----1-----------1-3---3--------- D-----1-----------1-3---3---------------------1-----------1-3---3- A---------1-3---3-------------------------------------1----------- E-1-3---3-----------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 7
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Exercise 8
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E---------------------------3-1---1-----3------------------------- B-------------------3-1-------------------1-----3----------------- G-----------3-1-----------1-----3---3-1-----------1-----3--------- D---3-1-----------1-----3-------------------3-1-----------1-----3- A---------1-----3-----------------------------------3-1----------- E-1-----3---------------------------------------------------3-1---
Index and Pinky
Exercise 1
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E-----------------------------------4---4-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-1---1-----4---4-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-1---1---------------------4---4-1---1------------------- D-----------4---4-1---1-------------------------------------4---4-1---1----------- A---4---4-1---1-----------------------------------------------------4---4-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
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E-------------------------------------1---1-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-4---4-----1---1-4---4------------------------- G---------------------1---1-4---4---------------------1---1-4---4----------------- D-------------1---1-4---4-------------------------------------1---1-4---4--------- A-----1---1-4---4-----------------------------------------------------1---1-4---4- E-1-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
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E-----------------------------------4-----1---1-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----1---1-4---4-----1---1-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----1---1-4-------------------4-----1---1-4----------------- D-----------4-----1---1-4-----------------------------------4-----1---1-4--------- A---4-----1---1-4---------------------------------------------------4-----1---1-4- E-1---1-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
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E-----------------------------------4-1---1-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-1---1-----4---4-1---1-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-1---1-----4-------------------4-1---1-----4----------------- D-----------4-1---1-----4-----------------------------------4-1---1-----4--------- A---4-1---1-----4---------------------------------------------------4-1---1-----4- E-1-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-1---
Exercise 5
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E---------------------------4---4-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------4---4-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------4---4---------1---1-----4---4---------1---1----------- D---4---4---------1---1---------------------4---4---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------4---4--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 6
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Exercise 7
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Exercise 8
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Middle and Ring
Exercise 1
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E-----------------------------------3---3-2---2----------------------------------- B---------------------------3---3-2---2-----3---3-2---2--------------------------- G-------------------3---3-2---2---------------------3---3-2---2------------------- D-----------3---3-2---2-------------------------------------3---3-2---2----------- A---3---3-2---2-----------------------------------------------------3---3-2---2--- E-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 2
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E-------------------------------------2---2-3---3--------------------------------- B-----------------------------2---2-3---3-----2---2-3---3------------------------- G---------------------2---2-3---3---------------------2---2-3---3----------------- D-------------2---2-3---3-------------------------------------2---2-3---3--------- A-----2---2-3---3-----------------------------------------------------2---2-3---3- E-2-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 3
---3----- -2---2-3-
E-----------------------------------3-----2---2-3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-----2---2-3---3-----2---2-3------------------------- G-------------------3-----2---2-3-------------------3-----2---2-3----------------- D-----------3-----2---2-3-----------------------------------3-----2---2-3--------- A---3-----2---2-3---------------------------------------------------3-----2---2-3- E-2---2-3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 4
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E-----------------------------------3-2---2-----3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-2---2-----3---3-2---2-----3------------------------- G-------------------3-2---2-----3-------------------3-2---2-----3----------------- D-----------3-2---2-----3-----------------------------------3-2---2-----3--------- A---3-2---2-----3---------------------------------------------------3-2---2-----3- E-2-----3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-2---
Exercise 5
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Exercise 6
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E-----------------------------2---2-3---3------------------------- B---------------------2-------------------2-3---3----------------- G-------------2-----------2-3---3-----2-----------2-3---3--------- D-----2-----------2-3---3---------------------2-----------2-3---3- A---------2-3---3-------------------------------------2----------- E-2-3---3-----------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 7
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E---------------------------3-----2---2-3------------------------- B-------------------3---------------------2---2-3----------------- G-----------3-------------2---2-3---3-------------2---2-3--------- D---3-------------2---2-3-------------------3-------------2---2-3- A---------2---2-3-----------------------------------3------------- E-2---2-3---------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 8
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E---------------------------3-2---2-----3------------------------- B-------------------3-2-------------------2-----3----------------- G-----------3-2-----------2-----3---3-2-----------2-----3--------- D---3-2-----------2-----3-------------------3-2-----------2-----3- A---------2-----3-----------------------------------3-2----------- E-2-----3---------------------------------------------------3-2---
Middle and Pinky
Exercise 1
---4---4- -2---2---
E-----------------------------------4---4-2---2----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-2---2-----4---4-2---2--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-2---2---------------------4---4-2---2------------------- D-----------4---4-2---2-------------------------------------4---4-2---2----------- A---4---4-2---2-----------------------------------------------------4---4-2---2--- E-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
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E-------------------------------------2---2-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------2---2-4---4-----2---2-4---4------------------------- G---------------------2---2-4---4---------------------2---2-4---4----------------- D-------------2---2-4---4-------------------------------------2---2-4---4--------- A-----2---2-4---4-----------------------------------------------------2---2-4---4- E-2-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 3
---4----- -2---2-4-
E-----------------------------------4-----2---2-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----2---2-4---4-----2---2-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----2---2-4-------------------4-----2---2-4----------------- D-----------4-----2---2-4-----------------------------------4-----2---2-4--------- A---4-----2---2-4---------------------------------------------------4-----2---2-4- E-2---2-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
---4-2--- -2-----4-
E-----------------------------------4-2---2-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-2---2-----4---4-2---2-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-2---2-----4-------------------4-2---2-----4----------------- D-----------4-2---2-----4-----------------------------------4-2---2-----4--------- A---4-2---2-----4---------------------------------------------------4-2---2-----4- E-2-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-2---
Exercise 5
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E---------------------------4---4-2---2--------------------------- B-------------------4---4-----------------2---2------------------- G-----------4---4---------2---2-----4---4---------2---2----------- D---4---4---------2---2---------------------4---4---------2---2--- A---------2---2-------------------------------------4---4--------- E-2---2-----------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 6
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E-----------------------------2---2-4---4------------------------- B---------------------2-------------------2-4---4----------------- G-------------2-----------2-4---4-----2-----------2-4---4--------- D-----2-----------2-4---4---------------------2-----------2-4---4- A---------2-4---4-------------------------------------2----------- E-2-4---4-----------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 7
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E---------------------------4-----2---2-4------------------------- B-------------------4---------------------2---2-4----------------- G-----------4-------------2---2-4---4-------------2---2-4--------- D---4-------------2---2-4-------------------4-------------2---2-4- A---------2---2-4-----------------------------------4------------- E-2---2-4---------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 8
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E---------------------------4-2---2-----4------------------------- B-------------------4-2-------------------2-----4----------------- G-----------4-2-----------2-----4---4-2-----------2-----4--------- D---4-2-----------2-----4-------------------4-2-----------2-----4- A---------2-----4-----------------------------------4-2----------- E-2-----4---------------------------------------------------4-2---
Ring and Pinky
Exercise 1
---4---4- -3---3---
E-----------------------------------4---4-3---3----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-3---3-----4---4-3---3--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-3---3---------------------4---4-3---3------------------- D-----------4---4-3---3-------------------------------------4---4-3---3----------- A---4---4-3---3-----------------------------------------------------4---4-3---3--- E-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
-----3--- -3-4---4-
E-------------------------------------3---3-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------3---3-4---4-----3---3-4---4------------------------- G---------------------3---3-4---4---------------------3---3-4---4----------------- D-------------3---3-4---4-------------------------------------3---3-4---4--------- A-----3---3-4---4-----------------------------------------------------3---3-4---4- E-3-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------3---
Exercise 3
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E-----------------------------------4-----3---3-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----3---3-4---4-----3---3-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----3---3-4-------------------4-----3---3-4----------------- D-----------4-----3---3-4-----------------------------------4-----3---3-4--------- A---4-----3---3-4---------------------------------------------------4-----3---3-4- E-3---3-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
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E-----------------------------------4-3---3-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-3---3-----4---4-3---3-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-3---3-----4-------------------4-3---3-----4----------------- D-----------4-3---3-----4-----------------------------------4-3---3-----4--------- A---4-3---3-----4---------------------------------------------------4-3---3-----4- E-3-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-3---
Exercise 5
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Exercise 6
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E-----------------------------3---3-4---4------------------------- B---------------------3-------------------3-4---4----------------- G-------------3-----------3-4---4-----3-----------3-4---4--------- D-----3-----------3-4---4---------------------3-----------3-4---4- A---------3-4---4-------------------------------------3----------- E-3-4---4-----------------------------------------------------3---
Exercise 7
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E---------------------------4-----3---3-4------------------------- B-------------------4---------------------3---3-4----------------- G-----------4-------------3---3-4---4-------------3---3-4--------- D---4-------------3---3-4-------------------4-------------3---3-4- A---------3---3-4-----------------------------------4------------- E-3---3-4---------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 8
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E---------------------------4-3---3-----4------------------------- B-------------------4-3-------------------3-----4----------------- G-----------4-3-----------3-----4---4-3-----------3-----4--------- D---4-3-----------3-----4-------------------4-3-----------3-----4- A---------3-----4-----------------------------------4-3----------- E-3-----4---------------------------------------------------4-3---
Petrucci Chords
The goal here is to make chord shapes that involve each of the four fingers on each of 4 adjacent frets, like you are playing a chromatic scale on a single string:
-3-4-5-6- i m r p
So each finger is assigned a fret, and will always be on that fret throughout the exercise; however, each finger frets different strings, making a chord. Then alternate between that chord and the mirror of that chord, where the fingers that were on low strings are now on the high strings and vice versa. For example:
-4--1---...---3--2- -3--2---...---1--4- -2--3---...---4--1- -1--4---...---2--3-
Here's the complete list or chords and mirrors:
| Index as Root |
|-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror w pinky as root |
|p|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|r|-|-| |p|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|p|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
| Middle as root |
|-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror w ring as root |
|i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
Many of these are NOT easy to finger. And alternating between a chord and its mirror will be difficult at first. That's kind of the point of this exercise. It forces the muscles in your hands to make not only difficult shapes but also difficult transitions. You shouldn't have any real focus on speed - the point is to get your hand comfortable in making the shapes and being able to make the transitions clean. If you want John Petrucci do it, you'll want to give up playing guitar altogether. But we don't get to see his early years, where this was (probably) difficult even for him.
The best way to start on this isn't to try to go through each shape (and its mirror), but pick a shape and alternate between it and the mirror several times, even moving across strings. For example if we pick the first shape, we'd play like this:
E--------------7--4--------------------7--4-- B--------7--4--6--5--7--4--------7--4--6--5-- G--7--4--6--5--5--6--6--5--7--4--6--5--5--6-- D--6--5--5--6--4--7--5--6--6--5--5--6--4--7-- A--5--6--4--7--------4--7--5--6--4--7-------- E--4--7--------------------4--7--------------
Then move onto the next easiest shape for you and repeat. At first, this is its own technique exercise. Once you're more comfortable and can make advanced chord shapes, this becomes a warm up; but it doesn't mean you'll play through all 12 examples (w/ their 12 mirrors). You may only play through 2-4 of them at first. Only a very advanced player that's going to be playing an intense gig would want to do the complete set.
If you play the example tab for all 12 sets of chords and mirrors, you'd be playing 12 sets of 14 chords = 168 chords. That's one hell of a warm up!